Thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescence: Experience of a tertiary care centre in Kerala

  • Dr. Lakshminarayana Gopaliah R EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital and Research Centre, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
  • Dr. Sheetal Lakshminarayana G MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
  • Mr. Nidhish P Sadanandan Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, AIMS Ponekkara PO, Kochi, Kerala, India.
  • Mr. Pramod Mundekkat EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital and Research Centre, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
Keywords: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Background: There is limited data regarding the prevalence of thyroid disorders in children and adolescents from India.

Methods: All subjects aged 1-19 years, who underwent estimation of thyroid function tests (TFTs) at the EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital and Research Centre, Perinthalmanna (2009-2013) were included in the study.

Results: A total of 784 subjects (males-336, females-448), aged between 1-19 (Mean 11.12, SD-6.23) years, who under-went estimation of TFTs were studied. The prevalence rate of all thyroid function abnormalities was 9.18%. The thyroid function disorders were more common (10.89%) in adolescents (14-19 years) than children (1-13 years) (7.82%) and in females (12.05%) than males (5.36%) in both age groups. The prevalence rates of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), overt hypothyroidism (OH) and hyperthyroidism were 4.08%, 3.05% and 2.04% respectively.

Conclusions: The thyroid function abnormalities are common in children and adolescents affecting about ~ 9% in study population. The SCH was the commonest thyroid function disorder, followed by OH and hyperthyroidism with female: male ratios of 2.5:1, 2.43:1 and 7:1 respectively. Majority of cases OH were of primary hypothyroidism. The SCH and hyperthyroidism were more prevalent in the adolescents than children; however, OH was more common in children than adolescents.

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Thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescence: Experience of a tertiary care centre in Kerala
CITATION
DOI: 10.17511/ijpr.2016.i01.02
Published: 2016-01-31
How to Cite
Dr. Lakshminarayana Gopaliah R, Dr. Sheetal Lakshminarayana G, Mr. Nidhish P Sadanandan, & Mr. Pramod Mundekkat. (2016). Thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescence: Experience of a tertiary care centre in Kerala. Pediatric Review: International Journal of Pediatric Research, 3(1), 3-8. https://doi.org/10.17511/ijpr.2016.i01.02
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Original Article